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AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation
InventorCornelis Van Berkel
Estimating the term…
A first substrate (2) carries an array (3) of imaging elements (4). An array (5) of lens elements (6) is provided with each lens element (6) associated with at least one imaging element (4) for concentrating light (L) travelling on a light path between the imaging element (4) and the at least one lens element (6). An electro-optic material (8) having an electrically alterable refractive index is provided in a space defined between a second substrate (7) and one of the imaging element and the lens element arrays (3 and 5). Electrodes (8a,8b) are provided for applying an electrical potential across the electro-optic material (8) to adjust the effective focal length of the lens elements (6). The focal length of the lens elements (6) can thus be adjusted by applying or varying the potential applied across the electro-optic material so that the focus of the imaging device is not entirely dependent on the nature and construction of the lens elements (6 ).
An imaging device comprising a first substrate carrying an array of imaging elements and an array of lens elements with each lens element being associated with at least one imaging element for concentrating light travelling on a light path between the imaging element and the at least one lens element, characterised in that an electro-optic material having an electrically alterable refractive index is provided in a space defined between a second substrate and one of the imaging element and the lens element arrays and in that means are provided for applying an electrical potential across the electro-optic material to adjust the effective focal length of the lens elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.